Snyder apologies for blame of Zuber

Ryan Black rblack@themercury.comNovember 6, 2018

Following Saturday’s 14-13 loss at TCU, Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder pointed to one player’s mistake as the difference in the game.

Junior receiver Isaiah Zuber committed the miscue, fumbling the game’s first punt after the Wildcats forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. After recovering the fumble, TCU went on to score to take a 7-0 lead.

“It wasn’t special teams so much as it was one individual,” Snyder said after the game. “You take away the turnover that gave them the winning touchdown and we are talking about a different thing right now.”

“Well, nobody makes mistakes on purpose,” he said. “That’s not the intent of anybody.”

Snyder then said he should shoulder any criticism for any mistakes or other issues that crop up with his team.

“If I were going to single someone out I’d have to start with myself, and I mean there’s a number of situations that took place in the ballgame that could’ve dramatically changed the ballgame,” he said. “As I said with our players before the game and certainly after the game, ‘We’re all into it together.’ It’s not about one individual. It’s about all of us collectively. We win games collectively and we lose them collectively. No, I’m not trying to single any individual out.”

At the time of his appearance on Monday’s teleconference, Snyder said he had not talked with Zuber since Saturday’s game concluded.

But Zuber’s error was far from the only one on special teams the Wildcats had against the Horned Frogs. Blake Lynch missed what would have been the game-tying extra point, and a potential field goal couldn’t be attempted after a low snap in the first half.

Snyder said the problems the unit is suffering stem from a lack of depth compared to previous season.

“We have a number of young guys who are in positions either offensively or defensively where they have to play virtually the entirety of the ballgame,” Snyder said. “Consequently, that precludes them being overly effective or being consistently on the field with special teams as well. (It’s) just a conditioning factor as much as anything.”